Ontario/Quebec
Ottawa/Gatineau
25 July 2013
Hotline: Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club (OFNC)
Phone number: 613-860-9000
For the Bird Status Line PRESS * (star)
To report bird sightings PRESS 1 (one)
Coverage: Ottawa/Gatineau (Canada National Capital Region) E. Ontario, W. Quebec
Compiler & transcriber Bob Cermak [email protected] or [email protected]
There were only a few reports of local breeding birds and a few migrating
shorebirds this week.
Shorebirds were found at a few locations.
On the shallow water (some mud flats) from the Shirleys Bay dyke on the 18th
there were LESSER YELLOWLEGS (15), SOLITARY (1) and SPOTTED (2+) SANDPIPER. The
Carp river south of Carp (from Rivington St) and the Almonte lagoon (from the
viewing stand) had the same species plus a few GREATER YELLOWLEGS and LEAST
SANDPIPER on the 20th.
The Britannia Conservation area continues to be a good place to find local
breeding birds. On the 19th there were CHIMNEY SWIFT (4), PILEATED WOODPECKER
(2 juv), YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER (2), ALDER FLYCATCHER (1), HOUSE WREN (1),
BROWN THRASHER (2), OVENBIRD (1), COMMON YELLOWTHROAT (2), AMERICAN REDSTART
(4), BLACK-AND-WHITE (1), YELLOW (many), CHESTNUT-SIDED (2) and PINE (2)
WARBLERS.
CASPIAN TERN (2) have been seen at Shirleys Bay or at the Ottawa River
Deschenes rapids all week. On the 21st there were BONAPARTE'S GULL (10) at
Ottawa Beach (also called Belltown Park) east of the east end of Andrew Haydon
Park on Britannia Bay.
On the 23rd CHIMNEY SWIFT (9) were seen over the Joan of Arc Academy on Elmira
Dr. These birds are likely to be roosting and possibly nesting in the chimney
at that school.
Bird Studies Canada indicates that "The Canadian Chimney Swift population has
declined by almost 30% over the last three generations (13.5 years), and there
has been a simultaneous and comparable decrease in area of occupancy over the
same period of time. This dramatic and rapid population decline has led to the
recent listing of Chimney Swifts by the Committee on the Status of Endangered
Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) as a federally threatened species. Similar
declines in swift numbers and range are unfortunately all too common across
North America, but it is difficult to identify the cause for these declines as
little is yet known about Chimney Swift behaviour and ecology. Decreases in
suitable roosting /nesting habitat, a decline of insect availability, and an
increase in unpredictable weather are among the several suspected causes."
SANDHILL CRANE are known to breed in small numbers in the Mer Bleue
Conservation Area. A home owner with property backing onto that area reports
(with pictures) seeing 2 adults and 1 juv and reports "we have been here 6
years and have seen babies (sometimes 2) every year but we've never seen them
survive. This is the first baby to get as big as it is. We've been seeing it
every day." The home owner also reported that he has seen coyotes chasing that
SANDHILL CRANE family.
Interesting sightings;
- EASTERN TOWHEE (at least 2m and 1f) seen on Thomas Dolan Pkwy about half way
up the hill south of Stonecrest Rd on the 20th
Thank you to everyone who contributed bird observations!
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